BAMBOO:THE TEXTILE OF THE

FUTUREEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BAMBOO

Struggling to imagine how strong bamboo stems are used to make such wonderfully soft clothing? Bamboo is a unique textile product that comes with a number of striking properties. They’re properties that have a positive impact on your comfort, and also on global environmental concerns such as water scarcity, deforestation, soil erosion, green-

house gases and the current nitrogen crisis.

Despite the increasing popularity of bamboo textiles, the majority of consumers are still unaware of the benefits provided by bamboo. This has motivated us to develop this e-book dedicated to this unique textile product. We’re happy to be able to share what we know about the properties of bamboo to help you make a conscious choice

between bamboo and other textiles.

Copyright © Bamigo BVAuthors: Tom Meijer & Celeste Seffelaar

THE MOST INTERESTING AND VALUABLEINFORMATION ABOUT BAMBOO CLOTHING

1 WHAT BAMBOO CONSISTS OF 4

2 HOW SOFT BAMBOO CLOTHING IS MADE 6

3 HOW BAMBOO DIFFERS FROM COTTON 9

4 THE ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO CLOTHING 11

5 HOW BAMBOO CONTRIBUTES TO A SUSTAINABLE WORLD 13

6 ABOUT THE PRODUCTS WE MAKE FROM BAMBOO 17

IN THIS E-BOOK, YOU’LL FIND OUT:

A UNIQUE PLANTHere you can see the inside of a bamboo stem, otherwise known as a bamboo shoot. In addition to its unique shape, the trunk has transverse bulkheads at irregular intervals in the cavity, which are visible as outer ridges. These transverse bulkheads are permeable to water and air. The cells in the wall of the bamboo stem consist of 50% lignin, 40% cellulose fibres and 10% vascular bundles.

As most people have, perhaps you’ve always thought that bamboo is a type of wood. While bamboo may be hard and have impressively strength, it’s important to remember that it’s a species of grass. Like any plant, bamboo has roots. Unlike other plants, however, the bamboo stem has a characteristic round shape and hollow structure.

WHAT DOES BAMBOO CONSIST OF?1

BAMBOO FIBRESLet's take a closer look at the cellulose fibres that are used to produce bamboo clothing. In the longitudinal direction of the trunk wall, bamboo consists of these unique cellulose fibres. They are strong and play an essential role in determining the trunk’s compressive strength. Compressive strength is the degree to which a material can withstand compressive forces without warping. This is comparable to the reinforcement of concrete.

In the cross-section displayed to the left, the increasing number of fibre bundles towards the inner edge of the trunk is clearly visible.

(Source image: Bambusa)

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NATURAL MATERIALThe hollow shape of the bamboo trunk is 1.9 times more efficient as a building material as the rectangular cross-section of a wooden beam. This leads to material savings. Combined with the strong fibres, this makes bamboo an exceptionally suitable buildingmaterial. One of Mother Nature's most brilliant inventions!

BAMBOO PROCESSING TECHNIQUES:

PROCESSING TECHNIQUESNot surprisingly, bamboo is frequently used in the construction of products and buildings. The use of bamboo is more evident in some products than others. A bamboo raft, for example, clearly demon-strates the materials used, while bamboo clothing leaves more to the imagination. This is to do with the fact that there are several techniques available for the processing of bamboo. Each of the four processing techniques is illustrated below:

SAWING SHREDDING CRUSHING TRIMMING

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FROM BAMBOO STEM TO SOFT CLOTHINGNow that we’ve unravelled the inner workings of the bamboo plant and established that we use the shredding technique to process our bamboo, It’s time to look at how we turn these tiny bamboo particles into wonderfully soft clothing. It's a complex process, but we've done our best to make it as clear as possible using a visual step-by-step guide.

2HARVESTOur bamboo is harvested in China from the plantations of certified suppliers. Only the shoots are harvested. The bamboo plants’ roots remain in the ground So that after the har-vest, the shootsbegin to grow again. As the plant grows so rapidly, we can harvest bamboo for use in our clothing up to 6 times a year.

SHREDDINGAfter harvesting, the bamboo stems are shredded into tiny chips. This is done using larger rotary cutting machines. Bamboo fibres are small elements of the bamboo stem. These fibres are eventually used to produce bamboo clothing.

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VISCOSE PROCESSThese bamboo chips are then boiled in a bath of sodium hydroxide and carbon disul-phide. Techniques are continuously improving, and waste materials are now reused to ensure they do not contaminate the environment. These techniques are not yet perfect, but developments continue at a rapid pace. This process results in a mushy mass known as bamboo pulp.

YARNSAfter a few days, the cooled bamboo pulp is pressed through small holes in a sulphuric acid bath, where it hardens and forms fine threads. These threads are used to spin bamboo yarns of varying thickness. .

WASHING, BLEACHING AND DRYINGNow that we've processed the bamboo, it is called bamboo viscose. These bamboo viscose yarns are washed, bleached and dried – these are the final steps before the yarn is woven into soft bamboo clothing.

MAKING BAMBOO CLOTHINGAfter washing, bleaching and drying, the bamboo yarn is combined with other materials such as cotton yarn. This careful fusion of threads reinforces the fabric. The result is the most comfortable clothing in which bamboo is by far the most important component. In the next chapter, we explain how to minimise the impact of cotton use.

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DID YOU KNOW?

MOST BAMBOO SPECIES GROW BETWEEN5 AND 20 CENTIMETRES EACH DAY.

THE WORLD RECORD FOR THE ‘FASTEST GROWING PLANT’ IS SET AT 91 CENTIMETRES IN A SINGLE DAY.IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT THIS RECORD IS HELD BY A BAMBOO SPECIES: BAMBUSA OLDHAMII.

THERE ARE SPECIES OF BAMBOO THAT ARE MORE THAN30 METRES HIGH AND 20 CENTIMETRES IN DIAMETER.

BAMBOO SHOOTS AUTOMATICALLY REACH THEIR MAXIMUM DIAMETER AS THEY GROWFROM THE GROUND. THEY DON’T GET THICKERN WITH AGE, LIKE TREES DO.

BAMBOO CAN GROW ON PLANTATIONS AS WELL AS IN FORESTS.OOUR BAMBOO IS ONLY HARVESTED FROM THE PLANTATIONS OF CERTIFIED SUPPLIERS.

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3 BAMBOO VS COTTON Most of the clothes we wear are made of cotton – and cotton is far from being environmentally friendly. Thankfully, there's a solution to that problem: bamboo! Why have we chosen to use bamboo

in our clothing, though? We've listed the differences between bamboo and cotton that show why bamboo is such a good choice.

In short, bamboo is better for the environment than cotton in many ways. Not only is the plant itself more sustainable, but also the way it is grown and cultivated ensures that it is an environmentally friendly alternative to cotton.

Cotton is the water guzzler amongst textiles! On average, 8,000 litres of water are needed to grow a single kilogram of cotton.

Additionally, cotton is responsible for no less than 11% of all pesticides and 25% of all insecticides used in the world.

The soil cotton plants are grown in becomes so exhausted during cultivation that artificial fertiliser is required to revive the it enough to enable contin-ued cotton production.

Bamboo needs nothing more than sunlight and rain-water to grow. There is no need for artificial watering.

No pesticides, insecticides or fertiliser are required to grow bamboo.

After cutting, the fast-growing plant continues to grow new shoots, as its roots remain in the ground. Approximately 10 times more bamboo can be pro-duced per square metre than can be produced using cotton plants.

BAMBOO: COTTON:

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Fortunately, there is a solution to reduce the environmental impact of cotton cultivation: organic cotton. The differ-ence between organic and regular cotton cannot be identified by the naked eye. The difference lies in the produc-tion process. The production of organic cotton uses techniques and materials with a low environmental impact. Organic cotton, for example, is grown without the use of pesticides or artificial fertiliser and is spun without the addi-

tion of chemicals. We remain committed to producing cotton in our products as sustainably as possible.

ORGANIC COTTON

Bamboo fibres have around and smooth structure.

Cotton fibres have acoarse and rough structure.

Nevertheless, cotton is also incorporated into our products. That sounds contradictory, so we'll explain. Cotton fibres have a property that bamboo fibres do not possess: the coarse cotton fibres provide sturdiness and structure in clothing.

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4THE ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO CLOTHING

Not only is bamboo less harmful to the environment than cotton; when used in clothing, it also offers many advantages that cotton does not have or where the effect is less noticeable. We wouldn't dream of depriving your of these benefits.

WONDERFULLY SOFT:Another great advantage is the unparalleled softness of bamboo textiles and the excel-lent comfort offered. The smooth structure of the bamboo fibre is the secret behind this

fantastic property.

EXTENDED FRESHNESS:Fabrics made using bamboo offer excellent ventilation thanks to the microscopic holes in bamboo fibres. This is why bamboo keeps you feeling fresh and dry significantly longer. Bamboo also has a structure that repels moisture, meaning it wicks away moisture quickly.

EXCELLENT HEAT REGULATION:Bamboo fabrics also have several insulating propertiesthat influence heat exchange. In warm weather, bamboo fabrics feel fresh while also providing added protection against

the chill of a cold day.

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CREASE-FREE:Bamboo clothing does not require ironing. Thanks to the properties of bamboo fibres, the fabric is almost impossible to wrinkle and holds its shape exceptionally well, even

after frequent washing.

HYPOALLERGENIC:Bamboo is hypoallergenic, which means that it does not trigger any allergic reactions. This unique property of bamboo is particularly welcome for those who have sensitive skin

or suffer with allergies.

PROTECTION AGAINST UV RADIATION:Bamboo provides natural UV protection and can filter up to 97.5% of harmful UV rays. This makes it the ideal fabric to have next to your skin on hot days with prolonged expo-sure to sunlight. Bamboo clothing offers the full range of optimal protection for your skin.

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A SUSTAINABLE WORLDYou now know that bamboo is a sustainable alternative to cotton, but there’s more: bamboo helps reduce global environmental concerns. We want to bring to light what we are doing fora cleaner world with the help of bamboo.5

WE SAVE WATERUnlike cotton, bamboo grows without the need for artificial watering.Given global water scarcity, it is crucial to take this into consideration.

WE FIGHT SOIL EROSIONSoil erosion is a process of wear caused by wind and running water, which leads to infertile soil. Bamboo roots contribute to rich, fertile soil. When har-vesting bamboo shoots, the roots remain in the ground. These roots grip the soil, which prevents soil erosion and ensures that life above ground continues to blossom.

WE USE AVAILABLE LAND EFFICIENTLYIn addition to the fact that the roots remain in the ground when the shoots are felled, bamboo grows tremendously quickly. These aspects have a huge impact on land-use efficiency. Per square metre, we can pro-duce around 10 times more bamboo than cotton. This reduces the impact of the deforestation crisis.

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CHOOSE BAMIGO TO CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT!

WE ABSORB HARMFUL SUBSTANCESEach hectare of bamboo forest absorbs approximately 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. A bamboo forest absorbs, on average, five times as much CO2 as an equally large forest of trees. Bamboo also features a high ni-trogen uptake. This means that bamboo purifies the air and has a positive impact on the greenhouse gas effect and the current nitrogen crisis.

WE ARE KIND TO THE GIANT PANDABamboo is often mentioned in the same breath as the panda. This is logical, as pandas eat bamboo. However, our products are made of Moso, a bam-boo species not consumed by pandas. We also grow our bamboo on plan-tations, to ensure we do not impact the habitat of this endangered species.

WE ARE ECONOMICAL WITH OUR FABRICWe design our clothing ourselves and therefore also have an influence on how sparingly we use our fabric. Only after finding the simplest form will we manufacture the products. Our suppliers make as many garments as possible from a single piece of fabric to prevent the unnecessary disposal of leftover fabric and keep waste to a minimum.

WE ARE CERTIFIED TO THE BONEWe only work with certified suppliers who are proven to be environmen-tally conscious. Employment conditions are of equal importance. On the next page, you’ll find an overview of all certifications.

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GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD (GOTS)An international label that guarantees that the production of organic cotton is carried out in an environmentally and socially

responsible manner. For example, no harmful or carcinogenic substances can be used in production.

ORGANIC CONTENT STANDARD (OCS)This label is used to indicate that products contain sufficient organic material in the final product. The benchmark monitors the route taken by the raw materials from source to product: processing, production, packaging, labelling, trade and distribution.

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100A global certification system for products that come into contact with the skin. The more intensive the contact with the skin, the stricter the anti-allergen requirements. If clothing bears the Oeko-Tex quality mark, it does not contain any harmful substances.

Clothing with this label is therefore better for your skin and better for your health!

BUSINESS SOCIAL COMPLIANCE INITIATIVE (BSCI)The aim of this initiative is to improve working conditions. This includes a ban on forced and child labour, along with safe working

conditions. Our suppliers have been rated A, which is referred to as ‘very good’.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC)The council is an international organisation dedicated to conservation and responsible forest management worldwide. FSC pro-

ducts are managed according to FSC guidelines. People and animals dependent on the forest benefit from this.

CERTIFICATIONS:

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DID YOU KNOW?

ON AVERAGE, BAMBOO ABSORBS 5X MORE CO2 THANAN EQUAL NUMBER OF TREES.

BY ABSORBING CO2 FROM THE AIR, BAMBOO HELPS COMBAT THE IMPACT OF GREENHOUSE GASES.

BAMBOO IS STRONGER THAN WOOD AND CAN BENDFURTHER WITHOUT BREAKING.

BAMBOO HAS A HIGHER FLEXIBILITY PER MASS DENSITY THAN WOOD.

BAMBOO CAN GROW AT GREAT HEIGHTS.AMAZINGLY, BAMBOO GROWS IN THE HIMALAYAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 4 KILOMETRES.

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WOOD BAMBOO

Strength per volumeRigidity per volume

(Booming Bamboo 2017)

6 OUR PRODUCTSBamigo makes every man feel comfortable, confident and successful. This is due to the benefits that men experience when wearing our high-quality clothing. The most important component in our clothing is

bamboo, but Bamigo is about more than just bamboo.

VIEW T-SHIRTS VIEW UNDERWEAR VIEW SOCKS VIEW ROBE

Our undershirts have extra length and optimal stretch.

Our boxer shorts are wonder-fully soft and offer the perfect fit.

Our socks have a reinforced heel and toe and provide extended

freshness.

Our bathrobe has a high-quality finish and a warm, comfortable fit.

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READY TO EXPERIENCEULTIMATE COMFORT? CHOOSE BAMIGO!In this e-book we illustrate why bamboo is the textile of the future. Choose bamboo clothing to add exceptional comfort to your favourite outfit. After you experience the pleasure of wearing bamboo, you won’t want to wear anything else.

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